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What is copyright?

If you produce original literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, you'll want to learn more about what copyright is and how you can use it to your advantage.

Copyright is the exclusive legal right to produce, reproduce, publish or perform an original literary, artistic, dramatic or musical work. The creator is usually the copyright owner. However, an employer—for example, a film studio—may have copyright in works created by employees unless there is an agreement in place stating otherwise.

Copyright is the exclusive, legal right to produce, reproduce, sell or license, publish or perform an original work or a substantial part of it.

When others want to copy or use the work they generally need to ask for permission and/or provide payment.

Copyright works include: literary such as Books

(Five pairs of hands holding books appear)

(A tablet appears)

Web pages

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Software coding

(Camera with a flash)

Artistic

(Transition to three spray paint cans and transition to a tube of paint with paint squeezed out)

(Director's chair and movie/TV clapboard)

Dramatic

(Director's chair is crushed by a dot that transforms into a music note)

Musical

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and…

(Sound system appears)

Sound recordings

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Communication signals

(Performers on stage)

Performers' performances

When does copyright protection begin?

(A sheet with the title: My creation, slides on a desk. Hand starts signing the sheet)

An original work is automatically protected the moment you create it

(A logo appears on the sheet that represents figuratively a copyright)

And, as the copyright owner, you have exclusive rights to use it.

You can register your original work with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.

(On a screen of a computer)

Learn more about copyright and copyright registration

(The text on the screen of the computer flips to:)

Visit Canada.ca/copyright

A certificate of registration of copyright is more evidence that the person registered is the owner.

Generally, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author of the work, plus (numbers flip rapidly up to 50) 50 years after his death. After that, the work is in the public domain, and anyone can use it.

Using the symbol is not mandatory, but is a useful reminder to others that the work is legally protected

Learn more about copyright and copyright registration

Visit Canada.ca/copyright

(Canada Wordmark symbol and music stops)

Copyright protects your creation

When you own the copyright in a work, you control how it is used in order to protect its value. Others who want to use the work have to buy or otherwise get your permission.

Generally, an original work is automatically protected by copyright the moment you create it. By registering your copyright, you receive a certificate issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office that can be used in court as evidence that you own it.

Your copyright exists in Canada during your lifetime and for 50 years following your death. After that, the work is in the public domain, and anyone can use it. This is true for most works, but there are exceptions.